An experiment was conducted to assess the feeding value of increasing levels of expeller extracted canola meal (EECM) in diets for growing pigs. Four diets were fed to 48 pigs weighing about 20kg were allotted to 24 pens (6 pens per diet) and fed for the four week experiment. The diets were a control corn–soybean meal basal diet and three additional diets produced by replacing 33, 66, or 100% of soybean meal with EECM. The diets were formulated to be similar in net energy and to meet NRC nutrient requirements for pigs. Pigs were allowed ad libitum access to feed and water for the duration of the study. Feed intake and body weight of pigs were determined on a weekly basis, whereas organ weights and blood parameters were determined at the end of the study.

Results indicated that average daily feed intake linearly decreased (P = 0.001) whereas average daily gains tended to linearly decline (P = 0.084) with increasing levels of EECM in the diet. The feed efficiencies were not affected (P › 0.10) by increasing dietary level of EECM. The analyzed level of glucosinolates in the EECM used in this study was 9.27 μmol/g, with values in the diets ranging from 1.02 to 2.75 μmol/g. The increased thyroid weight and changes in thyroid hormones indicate that glucosinolates present in EECM adversely affected performance of growing pigs.